Tool-handle.



No. 875,159. PATENTEDJDEG. 31, 1907.

H. M. GROW. I

TOOL HANDLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.12.1906.

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HERBERT M. CROW, OF OAKDALE, CALIFORNIA.

TOOL-HANDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31,1907.

Application filed September 12.1906. $erial No- 334,273.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT vM. CROW, citizen of the United States, residing at Oakdale, in the county of Stanislaus and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tool-Handles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to digging implements and refers especially to shovels in combination with a tamping-bar.

The chief object of my invention is to provide a shovel handle having a tamping-bar attached thereto and forming a part thereof the tool being so designed and constructed that it can be used for the various purposes to which the ordinary shovel and tampingbar are-adapted without detracting from the efliciency of the implement when used in either capacity. The time saved by having the proper implement at hand in certain kinds of work where both forms are required renders this combination of great advantage and therefore highly desirable. It is a common custom for the workman, when he is engaged in certain occupations, as for instance when setting posts, to reverse his tool and use the handle for tamping or ramming the earth about the timber. As the handle is ordinarily constructed of wood this use speedily results in its injury by wearing it away and splintering the end ultimately rendering the implement unfit for either use. I avoid this injury and add to the durability of the tool by constructing my improved attachment of cast iron or similar metal and fashioning the operative member in proper form to be better adapted to the purpose of ramming, than handles of ordinary shape.

I accomplish the above and other minor objects by the use of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application and in which Figure 1 is a side view of the end of a shovel-handle with my improvement at tached thereto,- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 1 on the line 22, and Fig. 3 is a view of the combined ferrule and tampingbar separatefrom the handle and with the protective cap removed.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 4 indicates a fragment of a shovel-handle, upon the extremity of which is formed a tenon 5. A ferrule 6, preferably made of cast-iron, is furnished with a socket 7 which engages the tenon 5 and is fixed thereon by means of a screw 8, which enters a countersunk hole 9 in the wall of the socket 7. The distal end of the ferrule 6 is provided with a projection 10, of less diameter than the ferrule proper, to form a shoulder 11. The sides of the projection are chamfered to form a chisel ick or wedge shaped point 12. A cap 13 iias a bore 14 which fits over the projection 10 and is furnished with internal threads 15 ada ted to engage threads 16 cut at the base of tiie projection 10. This cap 13 serves to protect the point 12 and is somewhat expanded at the outer end 17 to form a suitable hold for the hand to prevent its slipping when the cap is in place over the point and the implement is used as a shovel, and also serves as a rammer-head.

When it is desired to use the tool to which this device is attached, for the purpose originally intended, it is only necessary to screw the cap in place, when it will serve as a useful and convenient finish for the handle. If, at any time, the workman wishes to employ a pointed tamping-bar he can quickly unscrew' the cap from the ferrule so as to expose the point, and by reversing the implement, it can be used in a very efficient manner for the purpose of ramming, tamping, or picking or loosening stones and hard earth.

While I have shown and described my device as adapted to be attached to a shovel handle it is evident that it can be applied with equal facility to the handle of a spade or other digging implement and I do not,

therefore, wish to be limited to the precise combination set forth.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

A tool handle comprising a ferrule having a threaded portion and a pointed portion, in combination with a hollow tamping member having a threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the ferrule.

In testlrnony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT M. CROW.

Witnesses:

A. L. GILBERT, M. P. KEARNES. 

